Breath powered oscillator novelty

ABSTRACT

A breath powered toy held and supported by either hand and adapted to stimulate breathing, improve respiratory capabilities by exercising the user&#39;&#39;s lungs and unique in that its attractive operation promotes one&#39;&#39;s incentive to use it. A column of air is blown by way of a tube and suitably ported conduit means into an oscillatory or rocking cylinder, that is, a cylinder (with or without a figure toy) provided with a piston whose reciprocating pitmanlike rod operates a shaft-supported disk and a complemental flywheel. This intriguing cylinder-piston-eccentric assembly alerts and engenders interest and, in so doing, accomplishes the respiratory result desired.

United States Patent Inventor Richard L. Nave 805 W. Mulberry Ave., SanAntonio, Text. 78212 App]. No. 75,832

Filed Sept. 28, i970 Patented Dec. 2 I i971 BREATH POWERED OSCILLATORNOVELTY 10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 46/44, 46/56, 128/25 R, 272/57 R int. Cl A63h 29/16FieldolSearch.......................................... 46/44,S6; 272/57R; 128/25 R References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/i9l8 Grove 46/561,629,!35 S/l927 Vinson ABSTRACT: A breath powered toy held andsupported by either hand and adapted to stimulate breathing. improverespiratory capabilities by exercising the user's lungs and unique inthat its attractive operation promotes ones incentive to use it. Acolumn of air is blown by way of a tube and suitably ported conduitmeans into an oscillatory or rocking cylinder, that is, a cylinder (withor without a figure toy) provided with a piston whose reciprocatingpitmanlike rod operates a shaft-supported disk and a complementalflywheel. This intriguing cylinder-piston-eccentric assembly alerts andengenders interest and, in so doing, accomplishes the respiratory resultdesired.

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2 60 Richard L Nova 72 a Alt nae BREATH POWERED OSCILLATOR NOVELTY Thisinvention relates to toys and playthings for youngsters whereineye-appealing and animated structural means is utilized in a distinctand different manner and with a view toward inducing the user to amusehimself and, in so doing, to willingly display his newly acquiredtalents to those who are concerned, and pertains, more particularly, toa breath powered novelty which embodies unique means whoseinmotion-performance is amusingly attractive to the user.

Animated toys wherein a directed stream of air operates a pinwheel, abladed impeller or the like are not, as is known, novel. Several prioradaptations could be cited for background purposes but two citationswill suffice; namely, a US. Pat. to Grove No. l,275,0l7 which shows ajet actuated paddle wheel which utilizes a crank motion to operate arockable cylinder, and a remotely similar toy disclosed in a U.S. Pat.to A. Rick, Jr. No. 541,0l I.

An object of the present invention is to improve upon prior patents inthis field and to advance the art. To the ends desired, a hand-held toyis utilized and constitutes an innovation in that is resembles, broadlyconstrued, a wind instrument. However, and instead of producing a tone,it utilizes the air column to activate animated means whose inmotionfunctioning amusingly attracts the attention of the user and observersand, what is more significant, stimulates breathing and the healthpromoting benefits which are capable of attainment.

Briefly the disclosed toy is such in shape, size and form that it can besupported and held in alignment with the users mouth in either hand and,in side elevation, resembles a wind musical instrument equipped with acup-type mouthpiece. All of the primary component parts are made ofmoldable plastic material of an appropriate economical but suitablegrade. The elongated blocklike body member is herein set forth as havingtop and bottom lengthwise edges, outward and inward vertical edgesjoining the horizontal top and bottom edges, and lefthand and right-handplanar sides. An appropriate handgrip is joined to and depends from amedian portion of the bottom edge. Constantly viewable animatedair-actuated crank motion means is operatively and accessibly mounted onone side, usually the left hand side, of the body member, said meansbeing normally stationary, that is, at rest, but being susceptible ofcoming into play and set into eye-attracting and amusing motion whenacted on by a concentrated column of air. To the ends desired a breathconcentrating and supply tube is accessibly mounted atop the top edgeand has a cleanout plug at the forward or outer end, is clipped in placeand has a mouthpiece conveniently arranged for practical use. Thegenerated air column is delivered into conduit means which is embodiedin the body member and is associatively and cooperatively communicablewith the animated air-actuated means through the medium of appropriatelyand timely registrable air inlet and exhaust ports.

In carrying out an adaptable embodiment of the invention, the bodymember has a bore providing an air receiving and delivery duct, saidduct being provided at its respective ends with air ports and having itsforward end normally closed by a manually applicable and removablecleanout plug. In fact, the body member is also provided with a rightangularly disposed bypass duct which has a lower end communicating withsaid first-named delivery duct and an intake upper end which opensthrough the top edge of the body member and is communicable with the aircolumn provided in the breath concentrating and air supply tube which isperched on and fastened to the top edge. The constantly viewable andanimated air-actuated means is preferably, but not necessarily,operatively mounted on the lefl hand side of the body member. This meansis normally inactive but is designed and adapted and so constructed thatit is activated and set into eye-attracting and noticeably amusingmotion and brought into play by the applied column of air which issupplied by the user.

As will be hereinafter more fully appreciated, individual initiativebecomes a key factor in that the user becomes breath conscious, anddiscovers that it is a resourceful and beneficial aid in that it affordsthe user a comprehensive understanding that a simple continuous streamof air which is concentrated and passed through a tube and istransmitted by way of coor dinating conduit means, is oriented withcoacting ports in a manner to induce breathing and to simultaneouslyacquaint the user with the knowledge that an activated cylinder can beoscillated by a reciprocating piston and wherein the connecting rod,through the medium of an eccentric crank connection, functions to turn arotatable disc and a complemental flywheel.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a view in side elevation of the breath powered oscillatornovelty showing how the same is held and used and how the desired endresult is attainable.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the breath powered oscillator deviceappearing in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view in elevation observing the structure of FIGS. 1and 2 in a direction from right to left.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed view with parts appearing in section andelevation and which is taken on the section line 4-4 of FIG. 3 lookingin the direction of the indicating arrows.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detailed view with parts appearing in sectionand elevation and showing how the forward end of the tube iscommunicatively connected with what is herein described as airdelivering conduit means.

FEG. 6 is a section taken on the plane of the vertical section line 6-6of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a similar view taken on the plane of the section line 7-7 ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation and of adiagrammatic type showing the lefl hand face or side of the body memberand showing the piston and cylinder and crank motion action and how thecylinder is oscillated or rocked to assume one of its inmotionpositions.

FIG. 9 is a view like FIG. 8 also of a diagrammatic type showing anotherposition of the cylinder, piston and eccentric disc.

And FIG. [0 is a fragmentary elevational view observing the forward orouter end portion of the left-hand side (lefl compared to the showing inFIG. I) and wherein the rocking or oscillatory cylinder is provided withan animating figure head.

With reference in particular to FIGS. I to 4, inclusive, it will beevident that the one-piece hand-held plastic or equivalent component isdenoted, generally stated, by the numeral 12. It comprises an elongatedor substantially rectangular body member having a horizontal top edgeI4, a similar horizontally elongated bottom edge I6, a vertical forwardedge 18 joining the edges I4 and I6 and an inner or rearward edge 20also joining the edges 14 and 16. An appropriate integral dependinghandgrip 2] is joined with a median portion of the bottom edge 16 sothat it can be caught hold of (with either hand) in the manner shown inFIG. 1. The planar sides are designated as a right side 22 (FIG. I) anda similar complemental left side 24 (FIG. 4). The expressions "left" andright" are used in relation to the inuse position of the device shown inFIG. 1 wherein the handgrip is being held by the user's left hand. Withcontinuing reference to the body member, and with respect to FIG. 5, itwill be seen that a bore of requisite length and cross section isprovided in the forward end portion and is denoted at 26 and is providedat its respective ends with longitudinally spaced communicating ports C.The outer or forward end of this bore is closed by an insertable andremovable cleanout plug 28. Disposed at right angles to the bore is acoacting sleeve-lined bore 29 and these two bores constitute airdelivering conduit means. The air from the mouflr of the user issupplied or delivered by way of an elongated plastic tube 30 ofrequisite length whose forward end 32 is normally closed by way of acleanout plug 34. This tube is perched atop the top edge 14 and is heldin place by U-shaped attaching clips 36 fastened in place as illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 4 in particular. The inner end portion of the tube, thatis the portion 38, is provided with a suitably designed and attachedcupped mouthpiece 40 which in use is held against the lips of the userin the manner illustrated in FIG. 1. Manifestly air blown into themouthpiece 40 is supplied by way of the hollow tube 30 to the bypasspassage 28 and into the complemental bore 26 for use by way of thespaced alternatively performing ports C. The stream of air thusgenerated is utilized to operate constantly viewable animatedair-actuated crank motion means which is operatively and accessiblymounted on the forward left-hand side 24 of the body member. This meansis normally stationary and at rest but is adapted to be set into motionand eye attracting amusing oscillation when acted on by the concentratedcolumn of air. This means, more specifically stated, comprises acylinder 42 of plastic material having closing heads 44 at itsrespective ends as brought out in FIG. 4. The cylinder is integral witha rectangular base 46 which is fitted fiatwise against the surface 24,the base and cylinder being assembled and held in place by the headedend 48 of a first shaft 50 which is mounted in a bearing providedtherefor and which has a nut-equipped end portion 52 projecting as shownin FIG. 6 and which is provided with an appropriately mounted andcaptive coil spring 54. The sidewall and base portion of the cylinderproximal to the coacting surface 24 has longitudinally spaced inlet andexhaust ports A formed therein as is best illustrated in FIG. 4. Theaforementioned piston 56 (FIG. 4) is reciprocable in the chamber portionof the cylinder and is shiftable back and forth between the ports A. Thepitmanlike connecting or piston rod 58 has one end joined to the pistonand its other end is reciprocable through a guide provided in theright-hand cylinder head 44. The terminal end portion of the rod isprovided with a sleeve or an equivalent connecting member which in turnis pivotally connected to an eccentric pin 62 provided on a marginalportion of a rotatably mounted disc 64 of requisite size. This disc iskeyed at 66 on one end portion of a second pin or shah 68 which ismounted in a bear ing provided therefor. This shaft 68 extends throughthe body member and its opposite end portion (FIG. 7) 70 is providedwith an appropriate flywheel 72 which rotates proximal to the adjacentside surface of the body member as is evident par ticularly in FIG. 7.Thus, the piston-equipped cylinder is mounted for rocking or oscillationon the first spring-biased shaft or pin 50 and the eccentric disc 64 andcompanion flywheel 72 are mounted on the end portions 66 and 70 of thesecond pin or shaft 68.

It is within the purview of the invention to provide the exterior of thecylinder with an added attraction referred to as a figure head anddenoted at 74 in FIG. and which represents a clown or the like and has aportion 76 fixed in place on the cylinder so that as the cylinder isrocked (FIGS. 8 and 9) the figure head is also rocked back and forth orfrom side to side as suggested by the indicating arrows in FIG. 10. Thisfigure head is an optional detail and may be of any delineated shape andcolor to add to the overall eye-catching performance of thecylinder-piston-eccentric disc assembly. With further respect to theoriented and sequentially operable ports or orifices, it will be notedthat the body portion adjacent the cylinder and piston and conduit meansis provided with additional longitudinally spaced ports B. Thus thereare three ports to the left as brought out in FIG. 5 and three to theright as brought out in the same figure.

It will be evident from the views of the drawings that the oscillatortoy or novelty can be an is usually held in either hand, that is theright hand or left hand as suggested in FIG. I and is held in such amanner that the cupped mouthpiece 40 is placed in line with the user'spursed lips (FIG. 1 The plastic supply tube 30 is thus in line toreceive the current of air which is blown therethrough and also throughthe conduit passages 26 and 28.

The rocking cylinder takes air pressure at either end of the cylinder.The only other feature to consider is where the crankpin is located whenthe user is ready to blow in the air tube 30. Only light pressure isrequired in operating this oscillator.

The user should be sure that crankpin 62 is off dead center, at eitherend. A drop of oil on the moving parts occasionally will keep themrunning smoothly. A few drops on the piston rod close to the hole in thecylinder head is also helpful. Should too much moisture get in thedrilled ports, merely pull out the cleanout plug in the front end of thebody and blow the moisture out.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

I. A breath powered hand-held toy comprising, in combination, anelongated body member having horizontal top and bottom lengthwise edges,outward and inward vertical edges joining said top and bottom edges andleft and right sides, a handgrip joined to and depending from a medianportion of said bottom edge, constantly viewable animated air actuatedmeans operatively and accessibly mounted on one side of said bodymember, said means being normally at rest but being adapted to be setinto eye-attracting and amusing motion when acted on by a concentratedcolumn of air, a breath concentrating and supply tube accessiblymounted, and an air column delivering conduit means embodied in saidbody member and associatively and cooperatively communicable with saidanimated air actuated means.

2. The toy defined in and according to claim I, and wherein saidanimated air actuated means is characterized by a crankmotion-typecylinder-pistomdisc assembly.

3. The toy defined in and according to claim I, and wherein saidanimated air actuated means is characterized by a cyIinder-piston-discassembly, a first shaft joumaled in a bearing provided therefor in saidbody member, a median portion of said cylinder being mounted foroscillation on said shaft, the respective end portions of said cylinderbeing provided with air inlet and exhaust ports, and said body memberbeing provided with registrably oriented and coordinating air inlet andexhaust ports.

4. The toy defined in and according to claim 3, and a second shaftspaced rearwardly from, parallel with said first shaft and journaled forrotation in a second bearing provided therefor in said body member, saiddisc centrally keyed on one end of said second shaft and marginallyprovided with an eccentric pin, said piston having a reciprocatingpitman-type connecting rod, said rod having a terminal sleeve pivotallyand operatively joined to said eccentric pin.

5. The toy defined in and according to claim 4 and wherein saidcylinder, piston and disc are aligned with each other on said right-handside, said second shaft having an end portion projecting beyond thesurface of the left side, and a flywheel complemental to said disc andkeyed on said end portion.

6. The toy defined in and according to claim 5, and wherein said breathconcentrating and supply tube is perched and clipped atop said top edgeand has its forward end provided with an accessible removably mountedcleanout plug, and has its rearward end provided with a cuppedmouthpiece.

7. A breath powered hand-held toy comprising, in combination, anelongated body member having top and bottom lengthwise edges, outwardand inward vertical edges joining said top and bottom edges and left andright sides, a handgrip joined to and depending from a median portion ofsaid bottom edge, said body member having a bore providing an airdelivery duct, said duct being provided at its respective ends with airports and having its forward end normally closed by a manuallyapplicable and removable cleanout plug, said body member being alsoprovided with a bypass duct having a lower end communicating with saidair delivery duct and an intake upper end opening through said top edge,an elongated breath concentrating and air supply tube perched on andfastened to said top edge, said tube having a forward end portioncommunicatively joined to the upper intake end of said bypass duct, saidforward end having an insertable and removable cleanout plug, therearward end projecting beyond the adjacent end of the body member andbeing provided with an accessible mouthpiece, and constantly viewableanimated air actuated means operatively mounted on the left-hand side ofsaid body member, said means being normally inactive but being designedand adapted to be activated and set into eye-attracting and noticeablyamusing motion when brought into play by a column of air acting on it,said means having air ports which are communicable with said first-namedair ports.

8. The toy defined in and according to claim 7, and wherein saidanimated air-actuated means is characterized by a rockably mountedcylinder having air ports at its respective ends, a piston confined andreciprocable in the cylinder and provided with a reciprocably mountedpitman-type connecting rod. and a rotatably centrally mounted companiondisc having an eccentric pin to which an adjacent end of said rod iscooperatively connected.

9. The toy defined in and according to claim 8, and wherein an exteriorperipheral surface portion of said cylinder is provided with a fixedlymounted coacting figure toy which rocks back and forth in conjunctionwith said cylinder.

10. The toy defined in and according to claim 8, and wherein said discis located complemental to one side of said body member and is keyed ona rotating body-supported shaft.

and, in combination, a flywheel located on the other side of said bodymember, said flywheel being also keyed on said shafi and rotated inconjunction with the shaft and disc i i i i l

1. A breath powered hand-held toy comprising, in combination, anelongated body member having horizontal top and bottom lengthwise edges,outward and inward vertical edges joining said top and bottom edges andleft and right sides, a handgrip joined to and depending from a medianportion of said bottom edge, constantly viewable animated air actuatedmeans operatively and accessibly mounted on one side of said bodymember, said means being normally at rest but being adapted to be setinto eye-attracting and amusing motion when acted on by a concentratedcolumn of air, a breath concentrating and supply tube accessiblymounted, and an air column delivering conduit means embodied in saidbody member and associatively and cooperatively communicable with saidanimated air actuated means.
 2. The toy defined in and according toclaim 1, and wherein said animated air actuated means is characterizedby a crank-motion-type cylinder-piston-disc assembly.
 3. The toy definedin and according to claim 1, aNd wherein said animated air actuatedmeans is characterized by a cylinder-piston-disc assembly, a first shaftjournaled in a bearing provided therefor in said body member, a medianportion of said cylinder being mounted for oscillation on said shaft,the respective end portions of said cylinder being provided with airinlet and exhaust ports, and said body member being provided withregistrably oriented and coordinating air inlet and exhaust ports. 4.The toy defined in and according to claim 3, and a second shaft spacedrearwardly from, parallel with said first shaft and journaled forrotation in a second bearing provided therefor in said body member, saiddisc centrally keyed on one end of said second shaft and marginallyprovided with an eccentric pin, said piston having a reciprocatingpitman-type connecting rod, said rod having a terminal sleeve pivotallyand operatively joined to said eccentric pin.
 5. The toy defined in andaccording to claim 4 and wherein said cylinder, piston and disc arealigned with each other on said right-hand side, said second shafthaving an end portion projecting beyond the surface of the left side,and a flywheel complemental to said disc and keyed on said end portion.6. The toy defined in and according to claim 5, and wherein said breathconcentrating and supply tube is perched and clipped atop said top edgeand has its forward end provided with an accessible removably mountedcleanout plug, and has its rearward end provided with a cuppedmouthpiece.
 7. A breath powered hand-held toy comprising, incombination, an elongated body member having top and bottom lengthwiseedges, outward and inward vertical edges joining said top and bottomedges and left and right sides, a handgrip joined to and depending froma median portion of said bottom edge, said body member having a boreproviding an air delivery duct, said duct being provided at itsrespective ends with air ports and having its forward end normallyclosed by a manually applicable and removable cleanout plug, said bodymember being also provided with a bypass duct having a lower endcommunicating with said air delivery duct and an intake upper endopening through said top edge, an elongated breath concentrating and airsupply tube perched on and fastened to said top edge, said tube having aforward end portion communicatively joined to the upper intake end ofsaid bypass duct, said forward end having an insertable and removablecleanout plug, the rearward end projecting beyond the adjacent end ofthe body member and being provided with an accessible mouthpiece, andconstantly viewable animated air actuated means operatively mounted onthe left-hand side of said body member, said means being normallyinactive but being designed and adapted to be activated and set intoeye-attracting and noticeably amusing motion when brought into play by acolumn of air acting on it, said means having air ports which arecommunicable with said first-named air ports.
 8. The toy defined in andaccording to claim 7, and wherein said animated air-actuated means ischaracterized by a rockably mounted cylinder having air ports at itsrespective ends, a piston confined and reciprocable in the cylinder andprovided with a reciprocably mounted pitman-type connecting rod, and arotatably centrally mounted companion disc having an eccentric pin towhich an adjacent end of said rod is cooperatively connected.
 9. The toydefined in and according to claim 8, and wherein an exterior peripheralsurface portion of said cylinder is provided with a fixedly mountedcoacting figure toy which rocks back and forth in conjunction with saidcylinder.
 10. The toy defined in and according to claim 8, and whereinsaid disc is located complemental to one side of said body member and iskeyed on a rotating body-supported shaft, and, in combination, aflywheel located on the other side of said body member, said flywheelbeing also keyed on said shaft and rotated in conjunction with the shaftand disc.